"Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable" error when previewing Microsoft Word documents

3

When single-clicking a .doc, .docx or .rtf file, or attempting to double-click any of the aforementioned files I get the error int the title.

What I already tried:

  1. Following this Microsoft article, and changing the registry.
  2. Following this SU question and checking the my folder is not ecrypted
  3. Uninstalling completely then re-installing Office.

None of these seem to work - and this error causes the entire explorer process to freeze sometimes, as well.

t0mgs

Posted 2016-10-26T11:15:20.953

Reputation: 259

Have you tried a repair install of Office? – CharlieRB – 2016-10-26T11:24:27.050

That's kind of a hail mary move, which I tried to no avail. – t0mgs – 2016-10-26T11:29:25.537

What version of Office? What OS? Have you run any disk scans? Malware scan? Virus scan? Is this computer logged into a domain? – CharlieRB – 2016-10-26T11:37:12.323

If you're using Windows, start cmd and type echo temp >%temp%\temp.txt. If this runs without error and type %temp%\temp.txt shows temp, then there is nothing wrong with your temp directory and the message is misleading, so check your event logs for relevant errors. (On OSX use the equivalent bash commands.) – AFH – 2016-10-26T11:56:34.947

@CharlieRB no domain, ran a disk scan - all is well, antivirus runs constantly with no threats shown. – t0mgs – 2016-10-26T11:58:47.277

@AFH - all works with the temp vars. Which logs should I check? And where? – t0mgs – 2016-10-26T11:58:48.943

Try registering Word with Windows again. Run > winword.exe /r – CharlieRB – 2016-10-26T12:25:59.900

@CharlieRB - Did that too, doesn't work. – t0mgs – 2016-10-26T12:43:43.547

Check Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer. – AFH – 2016-10-26T13:52:25.343

The logs don't show the error - not as Microsoft Office alerts or General Windows alerts, at least. – t0mgs – 2016-10-26T14:19:55.593

Answers

3

Found this guide on thewindowsclub which sent me to the registry editor and ended up elucidating the issue for me.

It turned out that if you have renamed your user account at some point in the past, your cache and cookies folders may have the incorrect paths in the following location in the registry:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Changing these entries in the registry seems to have cleared up the issue entirely. The rest of that guide may help, too.

eunoia

Posted 2016-10-26T11:15:20.953

Reputation: 46

Everything in my registry is correct. Unfortunately this is not working for me. – James South – 2019-10-13T06:18:46.093

Asked: 2016-10-26T11:15:20.953

Viewed: 11 371 times

Active: 2019-09-02T13:34:50.327